First reading: Ex. 34:4b–6,8–9
Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.
Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there and proclaimed his name, “LORD.” Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, “The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.”
Second reading: 2 Cor. 13:11–13
Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Gospel: Jn. 3:16–18
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
In other words
Fr. Xene Sanchez, SVD (University of San Carlos, Cebu City)
Moses was the greatest figure in the Old Testament. Why? Because he was the leader of the Exodus? Because he was entrusted with the Ten Commandments? Because he led his people in the desert to the Promised Land? According to the Jews, he was the greatest because Moses was the only one who was able to talk with God face to face! He was so close and united with God that we learned more about our God through him.
Near the end of Exodus, God tells something about Himself for the first time. We read therefore one of the most important texts in the Bible. God is Yahweh, the Lord, Gracious and Merciful, slow to anger and abounding in Love and Fidelity. Others will translate it this way: “I the Lord am a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness.” What stands out in his identity is that of STEADFAST LOVE.
Many names were attributed to God as He revealed Himself progressively in the history of salvation. He was God in plural form Elohim, a hint to the Trinity. He is the God Most High, Almighty, Ever-living God, etc. And God revealed Himself fully and once and for all by sending His Son. Jesus joined all these names of God into one, in the most simple and easiest to understand: God is Abba, the Father. He is the Son, we are His adopted sons and daughters. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” He is a God who loves us so much that He gave to the world the most precious gift, His only Son. Jesus in turn loved us so much that He gave His whole life for us. Love begets unity. Before He died he prayed for unity, “Father, may they be one as you and I are one!”
When Jesus left, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. The sad story of the Tower of Babel was reversed. The divided humanity was united on the day of the Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is the Bond of Love between the Father and the Son. He is the Bond of Love that is uniting us all. At the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the Church was born. It was the beginning of uniting all humanity into one.
TRINITY – LOVE – GIVING – SENDING – UNITY – COMMUNITY! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the unity of the Holy Spirit be with us all. May the Holy Triune God live in our hearts and in the hearts of all people.